Researchers at Morgan State University’s Patuxent Environmental and Aquatic Research Laboratory quantified how restored oyster reefs in the NOAA Middle Peninsula Habitat Focus Area in Virginia would affect the local economy. They found that oyster reef restoration in the York and Piankatank rivers has a meaningful effect on the area’s economy. Results of their work, which was funded through the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Fisheries Research Program, were published in Ecological Modelling.
Oyster reefs provide habitat and food for commercially important species, including blue crabs. More healthy reef habitat means more blue crabs are available for harvest and for your dinner table. That provides financial benefits to watermen and supporting industries along the way.
In recent years, the York and Piankatank rivers have been the site of large-scale oyster reef restoration projects. That effort has led to 204 acres of restored oyster reefs in the York River and 497 acres in the Piankatank River. These projects have been spearheaded by members of the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Virginia Oyster Restoration Workgroup, including:
- NOAA
- Virginia Marine Resources Commission
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- The Nature Conservancy
These reefs support commercial and recreational fishing. But what would happen if there were more—or fewer—oyster reefs in the river? What other changes might affect the blue crab fishery?
Researchers Quantify Effects of Changes in Oyster Reef, Eelgrass Levels
The researchers quantified the effects of oyster reef restoration. They used computer models to estimate the ecological and economic effects of oyster reef restoration, including when that restoration is accompanied by changes in eelgrass coverage. Eelgrass (Zostera marina) is an important habitat for blue crabs. Seagrasses often grow near oyster reefs, because grasses need a lot of light to grow. Oysters filter the water, so more light is available near oyster reefs.
The project forecast 12 possible future scenarios for the newly restored habitat and described the potential economic effects of each. To do this, they input the best available biological data on plant and animal species that live in Middle Peninsula waters, and information on how they interact, into a computer model. They could then increase or decrease the amount of oyster reefs and/or eelgrass in the system using the model. This would show what having different amounts of these habitats in the system would mean. The scientists used an economic model to convert the changes in annual blue crab harvest into regional economic impacts. This includes revenues received by watermen for their catch as well as what watermen spend on gear, fuel, wages, and more.
The models suggest:
- If restored oyster reefs were lost it would cause a 13 percent decrease in the blue crab harvest and a loss of $300,000 to the Middle Peninsula economy each year
- If restored oyster reefs continue to grow, they would support a 25 percent increase in blue crab harvest and a gain of $700,000 for the regional economy each year
- If restored oyster reefs continue to grow and nearby eelgrass beds recover, that would lead to an annual 122 percent increase in blue crab harvest and gain of $3.1 million for the area’s economy
Marshes, Living Shorelines Also Provide Benefits
The positive effects restored oyster reefs can have on ecosystem and economy alike mirrors findings from another recent project. Researchers at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science determined that the Middle Peninsula’s marshes and living shorelines generate more than $6.4 million annually in economic value.
That study, also funded by the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, included data from roughly 1,500 anglers. It provides a comprehensive perspective on how people choose where and when to fish—and how they spend their fishing-related money.
NOAA and our partners in the NOAA Middle Peninsula Habitat Focus Area will continue to collaborate on projects to support the healthy habitat in the area to protect and conserve the ecosystem and bolster the economy.
